ALTERNATIVES FOR JOINING FABRICS

1. ADHESIVE : difference between adhesive and the welding is that,

in case of welding, heat is generated within the fabrics, but in
adhesive, heat is applied externally. Adhesive bonding uses four
techniques to bond textiles using adhesives: mechanical,
hydrogen, chemical, and thermodynamic bonding. Adhesives are
used for sealing, providing extra strength to seams, creating
stiffness, and water proofing seams. Adhesives can be applied in
several ways, including nozzles and tapes.
 Silicon paper, containing thin layer of adhesive in which
fabrics are joined after placing.
 Solid adhesive like glue, will be melted under heat. As result
fabrics are joined together.
 Adhesive threads as looper thread for edge neatening,
melted by applying heat and pressure by folding the
neatened edge and joined with the fabrics during the making
of the hem.
2. WELDING
USES:
 To attach decorative motif on garments.
 Sealing the cut edge of fabric to prevent fraying.
 Temporary joining of garment parts, which are permanently joined
by top stitching afterward.
 Used in water proofing seams.
DEFECTS:
 Weld Crack
 Incomplete Fusion
 Undercut: melts below welding point
a. HOT AIR WELDING:
i. WORKING PRINCIPLE : Heat gun blows hot air in
between two fabric membranes which soften the
coating, pressure(set of rollers is typically used to apply
pressure to the materials to join them at the weld) is
applied, when the two fabric membranes cools, a
permanent seam between them forms.
ii. FABRIC: thermoplastic industrial fabric and
films(fabrics should have at least 65% of thermoplastic
fibre, fabrics with percentage of presence of
thermoplastic fibres is less than 65, can also be joined,
but then polythene film is to be used between the two
 layers of fabrics.) - PVC coated fabric, polyethylene,
and polypropylene
iii. TEMPERATURE:  1,000°F to 1,350°F (400°C to
750°C)
iv. MACHINE LENGTH : 20' to 60'
v. THICKNESS: 1/16 (mm) of an inch or more
vi. APPLICATIONS: Industrial curtains, Fusible interlining
vii. MACHINE: PFAFF 8303i, Framis Noso heat bonding
machine ensures raw cut edge for elasticated hem, raw
cut edge with two sided adhesion tape for overlapped
seams, folded edges in a single operation, seam
sealing taping, decorative taping on open or finished
garments.
 Features of PFAFF 8303i :Separately driven
rollers for smooth seams and differentiation,
Touch screen for a simple handling by
pictograms, Tape cutter with separate drive
 Specifications: Welding speed: max. 7 m/min.
(standard), up to 20 m/min. optional, Width of
nozzles: 10 – 30 mm (other available), Heating
capacity: 3,600 W
 Application: car seats, tends and shoes
b. ULTRASONIC WELDING:
i. WORKING PRINCIPLE: Heat is generated with the
help of mechanical vibrations produced by transducer.
vibration - 20,000 cycles/second. For textiles it is
usually between 20kHz and 40 kHz. This vibrations
produced by transducer is sent to a Horn. The vibrating
horn against a fixed anvil will create heat in midst of
them. By horn, pressure can also be produced. Horns
may be rectangular or round. If the horn is rectangular,
then its dimension can be up to 25 cm X 4 cm & if
round, then diameter can be up to 90 cm.
ii. TYPES: For ultrasonic welding two types of machines
are used – First, machines with a fixed sonotrode and
a rotating wheel for fast and precise welding (especially
for curves) and second, machines with a rotating
sonotrode and a rotating wheel for fast welding (for
straight seams).
iii. FACTORS: heat generation depends on amplitude of
vibration, frequency, pressure and the time of vibration.
iv. APPLICATIONS: underwear, outerwear, outdoor
clothing, active sportswear, medical products, technical
textiles, automotive textiles, non-wovens and
packaging.
v. FABRIC: 100% synthetic or blends with up to 40%
natural fibers – Acrylics, acetates, polyester, nylon,
spandex, pvc
vi. MACHINES: PFAFF Seamsonic 8310
 SPECIFICATIONS: Sealing speed: 0.5 to 10
m/min. option to 20m/min., Seam width: 1,0 to
10,0 mm, Ultrasonic frequency: 35 KHZ,
Connection voltage: single-phase a.c. 230 V,
50/60 Hz